GMB SAYS CHINESE BID IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO MOORSIDE NUCLEAR PLANT IN CUMBRIA AND SUGGESTS THE LESSONS OF THE TOSHIBA COLLAPSE HAVE NOT BEEN LEARNED

Most members of the public will be looking on in continued bewilderment at the financing pantomime surrounding Moorside and asking why on earth the UK government hasn’t stepped in says GMB.

GMB, the energy union, says a bid by Chinese nuclear company CGN for a stake in Moorside is not the solution to the problems of the planned new nuclear power station at Moorside in Cumbria which is set to have been delivering 7% of the UK’s electricity needs from 2025.

State backed China General Nuclear (CGN), confirmed yesterday that it is in the running to shore up the £10billion project in exchange for an equity share.

The Moorside project has been beset by a number of setbacks in recent months beginning with Toshiba’s US arm Westinghouse, which is producing reactors for Moorside, going bust which led to Toshiba chairman Shigenori Shiga stepping down and French investors Engie walking away from the deal.

Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary, said:

“The latest offer of overseas “aid” to the stuttering Moorside project, this time by the Chinese government, suggests the lessons of Toshiba have still to be learned.

“Britain vitally needs a new fleet of nuclear power stations to replace the existing ageing fleet and ensure we have zero carbon electricity that is not reliant on the sun shining or the wind blowing.

“Moorside is an integral part of guaranteeing the UK’s future domestic and industry energy needs into the next decade and beyond.

“Keeping the lights on and powering our industries is a state function and this makes the UK government the lender of last resort.

“Most members of the public will be looking on in continued bewilderment at the financing pantomime surrounding Moorside and asking why on earth the UK government hasn’t stepped in rather than touting around the world looking for another government to take over a responsibility that ultimately rests with it?

“The UK civil nuclear industry was once the envy of the world; going cap in hand to the Chinese, Koreans or whoever is not the solution when Moorside and new nuclear should be a key cornerstone of government-led UK industrial strategy going forward.